washington

THINGS TO DO 

Ballard Ave: Historic street with plenty of unique shops.

Farmer’s Markets: The market is open on Sunday and has various food stands with produce.  Find tons of crafty homemade products.

Pike Place Market: A must-go if you’ve never been to Seattle. Be sure to catch fish-throwing at the seafood stand. 

Starbucks Reserve Roastery: See how they roast their beans! Not your typical cup of jo, it’s got Starbucks’ highest-quality coffee.  Worth the trip alone just to see the decor. 

Space Needle: A Seattle staple! Check out it’s staggering view.

Visit the waterfront: The Great Wheel is a giant Ferris wheel with panoramic views, check it out around sunset. 

PLACES TO EAT

Bar Melusine: Fun seafood-oriented restaurant with delicious oysters, scallop ceviche, halibut crudo, and smoked lamb.

Beecher’s: The hub for all things cheese. Try their gooey mac n’ cheese.

Boiling Point: Engaging hot pot place with spicy selections. Try the Curry Fishball or their House Special.

Café Besalu: Pastry shop ideal for breakfast or brunch. Quick, affordable, memorable. Snack on the quiche and baked pastries.

Hello Robin: Make your own ice cream cookie sandwiches, serves Molly Moon ice cream and cookies baked in-house.

Honey Hole: Sandwiches are their specialty. An easy, casual restaurant for lunch. Try the Fast Eddie and french fries with garlic aioli. 

Il Corvo: Pasta is their specialty and it’s deliciously filling. Everything, including the pasta noodles and sauce, are made in-house and they serve three different dishes every day. Only open for lunch!

In The Bowl: Best-value vegetarian/vegan Thai restaurant. We recommend the Pleasure Noodle, the Melting Culture, and the Garlic Mania Noodles. 

Japonessa: Built for happy hour. Wouldn’t bother if it’s not happy hour, but a fun fusion Japanese restaurant nonetheless. 

La Carta de Oaxaca: Authentic Mexican restaurant that brings the heat. Check out their Fish Soup, Fish Tacos, and #19 Grilled Beef. 

Le Caviste: Stunning French wine bar complete with an expansive wine selection and savory Charcuterie Platter.

Little Uncle: Popular Thai restaurant with authentic dishes.

Pacific Café: Hong-Kong inspired café food with varying noodle and rice dishes.

Salumi: World famous chef Mario Batali and family own this place and the serve the best Porchetta sSandwich. Only open for lunch and usually a wait, but so very worth it.

Sizzle Pie: One slice and you’ll incessantly crave it. A quaint Portland-based pizza restaurant with a loyal following.

Skillet Diner: Diner food with a modern twist. Some classics, bite into the Chicken and Waffles, the Kale Caesar, or the Fried Chicken Sandwich.

Stateside: Modern Vietnamese with memorable atmosphere. The Crispy Duck Rolls, the Cumin Pork Ribs, and the Grilled Pork Collar are big hits. 

Stoneburner: Italian restaurant with mouthwatering homemade pasta and appetizers. Definitely try any pasta dish with the roasted veggies or brussel sprouts. Truly incredible.

Storyville Coffee: Quality drip-brew in a cool space.

Tacos Chukis: Mexican cuisine in a tiny nook on Cap Hill. Sizzling spices and cheap tacos.

Terra Plata: A table on the upstairs balcony is ideal on a nice day.

The Fat Hen: Cute brunch spot serving awesome Baked Eggs and Eggs Benedict.

The London Plane: Bright cafe filled with sunlight and fresh, local food. Nestled catty-corner from Occidental Square.

Tsukushinbo: Super-authentic Japanese restaurant with recognizable sushi-rolls. Plan ahead, you’ll  need reservations.

Tutta Bella: Neapolitan pizzeria. We’d recommend the Giovanni, the Bianca and the Napoli salad. Finish your meal with a delectable tiramisu for dessert.  

Vietnam House: A favorite in Chinatown, really great hole in the wall place in the center of it all.

Places to Drink

Ballard: Lots of bars in this area, some places are more laid back than Cap Hill (King’s Hardware, Shelter, BalMar, Percy’s and Co)

Cap Hill:Lots of bars in this area, fun place to go out (Barca, Grimm’s, and Rhein Haus are fun places. RockBox has personal karaoke rooms that are a good time. Pine Box is a cool bar in an old church with good beer selection, low key place)

PLACES TO STAY

Fairmont Hotel: Chain of luxury hotels

Sheraton Hotel: Downtown

Westin Hotel: Downtown

Warwick Hotel: An old standard hotel

Kimpton Alexis Hotel: Chain of luxury hotels

Airbnb: Airbnb in Seattle can lead you to some unique places, check it out!

WORK SPACES

Cafe Victrola: Capitol Hill

Cafe Vita: Capitol Hill

Cafe Fiore: Ballard

Slate Coffee Roasters Storyville: Various Locations

Cafe Ladro: Fremont

Irwins: Wallingford

Zoka: Green lake

Retreat Coffee House: Green Lake

TRANSPORTATION

Uber & Public Transit: If you are heading into downtown light rail is the most cost efficient, the public bus system in Seattle is also fairly easy to use and goes almost everywhere-check out the app Transit for best routes

TIPS

Although Seattle is known for being rainy and grey, there is nothing quite like Seattle in the summer. If you want all things sunshine/outdoors try and visit between June-September.

FAVORITE HIKES

In no particular order

Talapus and Ollalie Lakes: 6.2 mi 1220 ft elevation

Beautiful hike to two gorgeous lakes, perfect distance for a morning hike with a rewarding view. Stop at the first or continue on to the more beautiful and secluded lake for a lunch spot. 

Rattlesnake Ledge: 4 mi 1160 ft elevation

Perfect “do it for the gram” hike. Ideal for out of town guests to show them the local beauty without scaring them off with too long of a hike.

Bridal Veil Falls: 4 mi 1000 ft elevation

Another shorter hike to beautiful views, easier: aka kid and dog friendly. Or, for a little more adventure…

Lake Serene: 8.2 mi 2000 ft elevation 

Continue on from Bridal Falls for a more strenuous/longer hike.

Snow Lake: 7.2 mi 1800 ft elevation

Longer but worth it! Best winter hike for snow shoeing or summer hike to another lake.

Lime Kiln Trail:  7 mi 625 ft elevation

Long and meandering through moss covered forest, good as a trail run, for older folks (low elevation change). 

Lake 22: 5.4 mi, 1350 ft elevation

Best summer hike: not too long, gorgeous lake that you can swim in surrounded by jagged peaks. 

Wallace Falls: 5.6 mi 1300 ft elevation

Medium distance with not terrible elevation change.